Page 83 of All's Fair in Lion and War
Novik was standing to Col’s left with his magick-bender mate tucked protectively against his chest with his arms around her.
Naomi had taken her place next to him. Col appreciated her offering of strength in this moment.
“This is your chance to speak to your intentions. Be honorable. Be truthful.” His voice thundered across the group and everyone fell silent. All eyes were on the prisoners.
The male at the very end of the line of prisoners looked up, meeting Col’s gaze with a slight hesitation.
“Thank you for sparing our lives. My brothers and I wish you and yours no ill will.”
“Why should we believe that?” Novik’s tone was laced with anger and bitterness. The other dragon had wanted to kill these five and be done with it.
Col had fought hard to give them this moment of judgement. They had surrendered after all.
“I can offer you nothing but my word and the word of my brothers.”
Brothers?Col scanned the other four men again. He could see familial similarities. It was a likely truth.
“If you allow us to leave this place alive, you will never see us again. We will never abduct anyone against their will again. We will find a place we can call home and hope for the chance to find soul matches for ourselves. We will never trouble you again. I can only ask for your forgiveness and mercy. For what Rivian and our pride has done to you and yours, I cannot imagine you having the grace available that I’m requesting. But I am requesting it nonetheless.”
Naomi touched Col’s arm to draw his attention. He looked down at his sweet big-hearted mate. “I want to speak to them.”
He nodded his head and gestured for her to step forward.
She walked closer to the male who spoke for his brothers, stopping about ten feet away. “Do you know who I am?”
The male bowed his head respectfully. “You are the mate of Col Li’Vhram.”
“Do you knowwhatI am?”
His head remained bowed, never once looking up at her.
“A dragon.”
“But I was human. He changed me. The human woman you had in your custody, Rivian bit her. He changed her because he has a royal bloodline. Reyleans who are not born of royal bloodlines cannot change humans. Did you know that?”
“No, I was unaware. Rivian knew he could change others, when we could not. He had us bite a couple of women a few months ago. He was trying to figure it out.”
“You not only helped Rivian kidnap that woman. You stole choices from her for the future. She can’t go back home. She has a beast inside of her. She might have children who aren’t human. This world doesn’t do well with people who arespecial. She will always be in danger now. Hunted. Because of what Rivian did and what you helped him do.” Her words got louder and Col could feel the heat radiating off her body even from where he stood, several paces behind her. Still, he was impressed with her control. He knew her well after the last year together. She was pissed.
“We don’t know how to make that up to her. We would do whatever was asked to make it right. For any of the women taken.” The male’s tone remained steady, though Col could hear fear threading through it like a spreading disease.
“Would your brothers not like to speak for themselves? Or are you the only one able to feel regret for your actions.”
The male next to the one on the end didn’t look up. None of them did. But he spoke at Naomi’s provocation. She was getting more out of them than he’d been able to for hours.
“I don’t know how to address you, but please don’t judge us for remaining quiet. My brothers and I were taken into Rivian’s pride when we were children. We have known no other life. And if an order is not followed, beatings are next, then lack of food. It trains you to do what you are told. It trains you not to ask questions. But it doesn’t train you not to feel.”
“You may call me—” Naomi paused and looked back to Col.
He was proud of her for asking. For not giving the males her name. They were not her friends.
“You may call my mate,Mahadhri.” It was fitting. If the determination was made to spare these males, it would be solely because of Naomi. “If you live past this day, you will owe her a life debt.” His voice was deep and half a growl, but he took pleasure in the way all five males bowed their heads even lower. Had their hands not been bound to the bindings around their ankles to prevent shifting, he imagined they would be prostrate in the snow.
She gave him a little smirk and turned back to face the five prisoners.
“I will warn you. I have children. Others in my Tribe have children.” She took another step forward and squatted lower, right in front of the male who’d spoken. “Look at me.”
He shook his head, refusing, afraid to take the liberty she was demanding.
